The program, marking the final day of Hispanic Heritage Month, was the first of its kind held at this school.

Born in Puerto Rico, Tellado-Schiff came to the United States when she was fourteen. Tellado-Schiff discussed how she was quick to be labeled by others. “People try to classify [me]. People are picking the box [in the census] for me.”

Although Kish lived in the United States for almost her entire life, she was also born in Puerto Rico. Kish described how she felt there were “less boundaries” amongst her South American family, who would camp out on her living room floor instead of staying at a hotel.

Carrillo’s father was born in Puerto Rico. When asked what she missed most about Hispanic culture, she said, “I miss the smell of the kitchen,” which was met with laughs. Carrillo also described a time in which she was not invited to Ballroom Dance for her high school because her name sounded “Italian.”

Rasetti-Pacios was born in Argentina before she moved to Spain at eleven. Rasetti-Pacios made the decision not to speak for a full year “so I wouldn’t stand out,” she said.

She also discussed social relationships within Spain and their difference from those in the U.S. “You don’t have all these organized activities after school to help socialize… that’s unthinkable,” she said.

Teachers discuss personal experiences during Hispanic Heritage Day was last modified: October 17th, 2014 by